Chuck Schumer won't say exactly how he plans to handle the nomination of Chuck Hagel, whose past reference to a "Jewish lobby" and opposition to Iran sanctions have rattled some staunch supporters of Israel.

Hagel could certainly use Schumer's help. The nomination faces lots of opposition from his former Republican colleagues, who haven't forgotten when he became the public face of opposition to the Iraq War, which means he'll need near-unanimity from Democrats, who might feel safer supporting him with the cover provided by a staunch pro-Israel voice like Schumer.

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Gillibrand put out her own skeptical statement after the nomination, highlighting questions about Hagel's positions on Iran. She's been careful since becoming senator to be at least as pro-Israel as Schumer (whose bona fides are much better established) on various issues, and it's unlikely that she and Schumer will break on the Hagel nomination.

The feelers sent to Chuck Schumer, Mort Zuckerman, Ed Rendell and Ed Skyler about running for mayor were "often playful ... sometimes a little more serious," according to a reporter who wrote about it. [TimesCast]

Albany

Cuomo is expected to call for raising the minimum wage, reforming the state's campaign finance rules and decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. [Ken Lovett]

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman helped win support from California's attorney general after Schneiderman's chief of staff helped organize a grassroots effort in that state. [Jacob Gershman]

Both state senators Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein have signs outside their office that read "Temporary President of the Senate." [Erik Kriss]

The Republicans and independent Democrats have "a memorandum of understanding" and "a working relationship of trust," explained Republican state senator Hugh Farley. Details of that memorandum were not yet made available. [Jimmy Vielkind]

The chairman of the Assembly's environmental committee and others want the public to have more time to comment on fracking. [AP]

An overview of the state unions negotiating with Cuomo's administration and facing potential job layoffs. [Rick Karlin]

One editorial board tepidly welcomes Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's signaled support for barring welfare recipients from accessing their benefits at ATM machines in strip clubs and other sensitive locations. [New York Post]

The Conservative Staten Island borough president who endorsed Cuomo in 2010 is endorsing the governor's gun-control agenda. [Carl Campanile]

Washington

Obama's new cabinet "will continue to be dominated by men well into his second term." [Annie Lowrey]

Nancy Pelosi on gun control: "If we come out of the Newtown experience and all we do is talk about it and not have a result ... that would be a dereliction of duty on the part of us in public office." [Carl Hulse]

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is worried about the nomination of John Brennan for C.I.A. director. [Donovan Slack]

Rep. Dan Maffei moved his district office, citing high rent. [Mark Weiner]